Clear coast for mine-free Costa Rica.

• Author: Case, Carl
• Position: Inter-American System

On December 10, 2002, Costa Rica declared itself to be the first mine-free country in the hemisphere. Mines and explosive devices had been buried in hills and arroyos and along bridges and roads during the war years of the 1980s and had remained in place for fifteen years.

Supported by the OAS Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines (AICMA), the Costa Rican officers of the antimine unit, or sappers, located and destroyed 338 mines scattered along the Nicaraguan border in the Provinces of Guanacaste and Alajuela, in addition clearing over 155,000 square yards of land. Thanks to that action, previously contaminated areas could again be used for farming.

"We have prevented 338 injuries or 338 deaths, which is a source of great pride and satisfaction for us," said Luis Alonso Rosales, an OAS international supervisor.

Six years earlier, AICMA had begun collaborating with the Costa Rican government on mine clearing, preventive education, and victim rehabilitation. Conclusion of those operations fulfilled the country's final commitment under the Ottawa Convention, which called for the destruction of anti-personnel mines within a period of approximately ten years following entry into force of the convention for a signatory state. Costa Rica signed the convention in 1997 and ratified it in 1999.

Fortunately, fewer mines than expected were found in Costa Rica. When AICMA began its work, about five thousand mines were estimated to be on the border; however, that number was gradually reduced as operations progressed. As is also the case in other countries of the region with the same problem, this was because there were no maps showing the minefields.

"There were no records of the mined areas, and for us it was like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Freddy Santamaria, chief of mine-clearing operations in Costa Rica's Ministry of Public Security.

In order to destroy a mine, the sapper group requires, in addition to international supervision by the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), an evacuation helicopter, a paramedic, and life insurance. "If any one of those elements is missing, mine-sweeping operations in the area could not continue," said William McDonough, coordinator of AICMA.

Mine clearing and destruction of devices were carried out in accordance with the international standards of the UN. While there were no accidents involving program personnel during those activities, operations were not completely trouble-free. During...